Fetichism in West Africa: Forty Years' Observation of Native Customs and Superstitions

Robert Hamill Nassau

• Publisher: Youcanprint
• Year: 2017
• eBook ISBN:
  9788892668393
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Ethnic & Tribal Religion

I lived four years on the island, as preacher, teacher, and itinerant to the adjacent mainland, south to the Gabun River and its Mpongwe tribe, east up the Muni and Munda rivers, and north to the Benito River.

In my study of the natives' language my attention was drawn closely to their customs; and in my inquiry into their religion I at once saw how it was bound up in these customs. I met with other white men--traders, government officials, and even some missionaries--whose interest in Africa, however deep, was circumscribed by their special work for, respectively, wealth, power, and Gospel proclamation. They could see in those customs only "folly," and in the religion only "superstition."

Table of contents

• PREFACE
• CHAPTER 1. CONSTITUTION OF NATIVE AFRICAN SOCIETY--SOCIOLOGY
• CHAPTER 2. THE IDEA OF GOD--RELIGION
• CHAPTER 3. POLYTHEISM--IDOLATRY
• CHAPTER 4. SPIRITUAL BEINGS IN AFRICAN RELIGION
• CHAPTER 5. SPIRITUAL BEINGS IN AFRICATHEIR CLASSES AND FUNCTIONS
• CHAPTER 6. FETICHISM--ITS PHILOSOPHY--A PHYSICAL SALVATION--CHARMS AND AMULETS
• CHAPTER 7. THE FETICH-A WORSHIP
• CHAPTER 8. THE FETICH--WITCHCRAFT--A WHITE ART--SORCERY
• CHAPTER 9. THE FETICH--WITCHCRAFT--A BLACK ART--DEMONOLOGY
• CHAPTER 10. FETICHISM--A GOVERNMENT
• CHAPTER 11. THE FETICH--ITS RELATION TO THE FAMILY
• CHAPTER 12. THE FETICH--ITS RELATIONS TO DAILY WORK AND OCCUPATIONS AND TO THE NEEDS OF LIFE
• CHAPTER 13. THE FETICH--SUPERSTITION IN CUSTOMS
• CHAPTER 14. FETICH--ITS RELATION TO THE FUTURE LIFE--CEREMONIES AT DEATHS AND FUNERALS
• CHAPTER 15. FETICHISM--SOME OF ITS PRACTICAL EFFECTS
• CHAPTER 16. TALES OF FETICH BASED ON FACT
• CHAPTER 17. FETICH IN FOLK-LORE
• GLOSSARY